Mop cleaner



Jan. 30, 1940. JONES 2,188,717

MOP CLEANER Filed Jan. 19, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 30, 1940. J, JONES 2,188,717

MOP CLEANER Filed Jan. 19, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tlvli v v will z Eli WE l W WI mama Jan. 30,1940- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlfiE Claims.

This invention relates to cleaners for dry mops, brushes and brooms, and particularly to cleaners having a receptacle for the mop, means for loosening dust and dirt from the mop and means 5 for conveying the dust and dirt to a dust receptacle or other place of deposit.

Heretofore, cleaning devices of this characterhave depended upon-suction produced by the ordlnary vacuum cleaner fan, and/or upon brushes at the bottom of the receptacle. The bristle brushes usually employed have been found inadequate and ineffective to loosen the dust from the mop and have, moreover, become so filled with dust, lint and dirt as to be wholly or largely ineffective after a short period of use. The location oi the brushes at the bottom of the cleaner chamber has also been such as to enable the brushing action to be applied only to a portion of the fringes or fabric of the mop, the attempted agitation of the mop by such an arrangement being found inadequate to'loosen and remove the greater part of the dust, lint and dirt from the interior of the mop or even from outer fringes at the sides of the mop.

Another objection to previously-devised mop cleaners of this type has been in the form and configuration of the suction fan, the blades of which, formed with the customary square shoulders, caught and retained any lint or long fiber particles dislodged from the mop and drawn by suction into the fan. The deposit of fibrous matter thus built up soon interfered with the proper action of the cleaner and rendered it incapable of performing its intended function. Attempts to shield the fan by a screen interposed between the mop receptacleand the fan have been unavailing, because the screen almost immediately became so clogged with dirt and fibers from the mop as to terminate the suction action 40 through the cleaner and prevent the passage of air, dust or dirt from the receptacle to the fan and dust outlet.

One of the principal objects of my invention is the provision of a receptacle or chamber into which a mop may be inserted, in association with means for effectively loosening the dust in or on the mop and means for withdrawing the dust and dirt from the receptacle.

A further object is the provision of adequate and thoroughly effective means for brushing and/or beating or jarring the mop to remove or loosen the dust or dirt held thereby.

A further object is the protection or guarding of the mop against excessively'severe action of the brushing, beating or shaking elements, without interfering with their proper action or lessening their eflectiveness;

A further object is the designing and arrangement of the blades of the suction fan and the other parts of the cleaner to prevent clogging of 6 the apparatus by lodging of dust or dirt inthe fan or in the passages connected therewith.

A further object is the' provision of a portable, unitary mop cleaner including in compact, convenient and operative relation and arrangement 10 a mop chamber or receptacle, means for effectively agitating the mop, a suction fan, a dust receptacle and an electric motor for operating the fan and mop-agitating means.

These objects are attained by the improve- 15 merits which constitute my invention and which may be embodied in machine? of specifically different construction and arrangement. The preferred form of embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein, 20

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of my machine, parts being removed,

Fig. 2 is a central transverse sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, 25 from the opposite end of the machine,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the machine,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with the top cover removed,

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the dust bag support shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of the suction fan, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of 35 the clutch shown in Fig. 4.

Generally speaking, the machine illustrated comprises a compartment A and space B, the former being preferably provided with a removable top having an opening 90a. for introduc- 40 ing a mop into an enclosed mop cleaning chamber or receptacle 4 disposed above a dust hopper 3 communicating through its discharge outlet 42 with a suction fan chamber within a fan casing 2 removably secured to the partition which forms the bottom of compartment A.

Within the mop chamber 4 are arranged a mop guard I2 and a plurality of mop brushes and boaters, the brushes preferably being carried by shafts 5, 6, I and 8, and the boaters by shafts 9, l0 and H, all of the shafts being journaled in suitable bearings in the end walls 40, ll of the chamber A.

The space B, which may be one or closed by a removable cover, receives an electric motor I5, 66

which also' supports posts l8, preferably of light tubing, upon which the compartment A is mounted. The shaft l9 of motor I5 is preferably extended through an opening in; partition i and is directly connected to 'thesuction fanwithin the fan casing 2, preferably by a-collar i 63 and set screw 64 (Fig. 7); The opposite (lower), end of the vertically arrangedmotor shaft 19 is set in a suitable bearing. and connected by gearing (preferably including. suitable reduction gearing, not shown, within gear box 25, miter gears 26, 2-1, and clutch 28')" with a transmission shaft 29 passing throughand maintained in; vertical and rotatable position by rigid arms-30, 3i, secured to one end of the ma-- chine (see Fig. 4). At its upper end shaft 29 is"'connected, by mite ears 52, 33, with-brush Shaft 'Lwhich is geared to-brush shafts 5,5 and ,Efor simultaneous rotation of. the shafts 5, B,

1 and 8 through rotation ofthe gears 35, 38, 97

and sacred-to ,theres'pective shafts.

The rotatable shafts 5, 6, i and 8 may be either hollow'or'solid. Theyv carry series of brush fin gers orQelmentS, 60, 60a, which inay be formed of brfstles or other suitable resilient material, but arepreferably'of resilient rubber, vulcanized directly. to the shafts, keyed thereto, or secured in any suitable manner within apertures, sockets or recesses formed in the hollow or solid shafts. The fingers are preferably tapered longitudinally to facilitate their passing through the fringes of the mop and allow lint to glide easily oil of them under the action of the air current from the fanfii. Y

The shafts 9, iii and II have amxed to them series of beater, picker or agitator elements, preferably'rigid and slightly curved. These elements may be blades or fingers of sheet steel, wood or hard rubber, set in sockets in the shafts, but are preferably in the form of metal fingers 6| integral with their respective supporting shafts. The beater fingers 6| preferably operate with oscillatory or rocking action imparted to the shafts 9, l0 and II by suitable connections (Fig. 3), by means of which the rotation of shaft 5 eifects the rocking or oscillatory movement of shafts 9, l0 and II, through a substantial are, preferably of 90 degrees.

The brush shafts 5, 6, I and 8 and heater shafts 9, i0 and II are mounted lengthwise in the mop chamber and so located therein as to engage and act upon the bottom and sides of the mop or brush inserted within the mop chamber 4 for cleaning.

To prevent damage to the mop from the brush or beater elements, and especially from the. latter, the extent to which the mop may be introduced into chamber 4 is limited or governed by a mop guard i2 extending throughout practically the entire length and width of the chamber. Guard I2 is preferably constructed in the form of an open wire tray, basket or cage comprising a top rectangular frame 83 with depending side and bottom bars preferably formed as integral loops 84. The guard may be held in position within the mop chamber 4 by any suitable means, such as screws 5| inserted through eyes 52 formed in the guard l2 and extending into suitably located screw-threaded apertures or sockets in the end walls 40, 4|. When in posia,1es,717 I v tion the guardl2, which receives the mop cleaned, is enclosed,-' on three sides-throughout.-i

the entire extent of the mop chamber, byrthe ro tating and oscillating fingers" described."

The guard l2 and-shafts I,9,-'|, .8, I, II and are so arranged-"and disposed that the brushflngers-ilL 6M,- andjbeater fingers 8! will not 1 come into contact with the guard andtherigid ,beater, fingers will not project so far into the; material of the mop'or brush as to tear or otherwise damage it. The guard efl'ectively'prevents' the mop from. being drawn between the rotatingv .bottom brush and/or beater shafts or fingers,

but permitsth'e brush fingers at thesid'e of the chamberto reach well into-the guard and'function normally against the-material of the mop.

7 The fingers of the bottom brushes act upon the portion of. the mop which extends beyond the ference between the fingers of the brushes car ried by the other shafts.-

The bottom of chamber 4 is formed by the inwardly sloping walls of hopper 3, which separates the mop chamber from the fan chamber. The central outlet opening 42 of hopper 3 registers with an opening 62 in the top of the fan casing 2.

The fan, rotatably mounted within casing 2, preferably comprises sloping fan blades integral with fan plate 66, and a collar 63 adapted to be secured upon shaft M by a set screw 84, the entire fan being of simple, eflicient and economical construction, preferably formed of sheet metal and so arranged as to be capable of being rzincovered by removal of a single cover (casing Thefan chamber outlet 43 is adapted to be connected with a dust bag 61, preferably at about its middle, as shown; the bag stands in vertical open bottom of the guardiL and the fingers of position when inflated and terminates in a collar 68 capable of fitting snugly over a dust receptacle 69, which may be of cardboard or other inexpensive material, to be thrown away when filled.

As a convenient means of removably supporting the receptacle 69 upon the machine, a tapered socket 10 on the bottom of the receptacle is adapted to be slid over and receive a rigid tongue or projection II secured to the base I! of the machine.

The entire machine, as illustrated, is preferably supported upon a portable base l1 mounted on rollers 59, and may be enclosed within a cover which may be removable-to permit access to the interior for cleaning, lubricating and repairs,

Power for operation of motor l5 may be obtained by the usual extension cord or cable I50 electrically connected with the motor and provided with terminals l5b adapted to be plugged into any ordinary floor or wall socket, and aswitch I50 for starting and stopping the motor.

In order to prevent injury to the motor IS in the event that an excessive load were thrown upon transmission shaft 29 by an obstruction encountered by any of the operating shafts of the machine, I form the transmission shaft in two parts 29, 29a, adapted to be connected by a clutch. The clutch comprises cone clutch members 12, 13, the former being secured to shaft 29 by screw 14 and member 13 being formed with a recess 19 to receive a coil spring 15 detachably secured at one end to the bearing bracket 11 by having its end set into a recess 18 in the bracket, and having its opposite end set into a fiber washer 80, which prevents the spring from turning with the clutch and forms an end thrust bearing for the spring. Clutch member 13 has a key or feather 8i which causes it to rotate with shaft 29a, while permitting a slight axial movement on the shaft when necessary. Whenever an obstruction tends to throw an extra load on shaft 29, the resilient connection afforded by spring I permits the upper part 29 of the transmission shaft to stop while the lower part continues to rotate with the motor.,

The machine described hereinbefore, although referred to as a mop cleaner, is intended and adapted for cleaning brushes and brooms as well.

current upon a small area the suction strength is so increased as to prevent the escape of dust or lint from chamber 4 after the mop is inserted in the opening 90a.

In order to operate the cleaner it is only necessary to plug in the extension cord l5a, turn the switch I50 to start the motor l5, and insert the mop or brush into chamber 4 through opening 90a in top 90.

When in position the mop or brush to be cleaned rests upon cross bars 84 of guard I2 and is surrounded on three sides by agitating brushes, the upper brushes, on shafts 5, 8, rotating in opposite directions, (clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively) thus tending to draw the mop into the chamber into a position where it may be effectively acted upon by the fingers 60a of the bottom brushes, each of which rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation of the other bottom brush and the adjacent side brush. For example, the brush fingers 60 of the side 7 brush carried by shaft 5 and the fingers 60a of the bottom brush on shaft I rotate clockwise,

while the fingers 60a on shaft 6 and fingers 60 on shaft 8 rotate counter-clockwise. By these opposing movements the brushes exert a back and forth movement, resembling "a kneading action, upon the mop fabric or fringes, while the rocking of the metal fingers 8| opens up and combs the fringes to loosen the dust and lint, keep such matter agitated and enable it to be removed by the combined effect of the fingers 60, 80a and the suction created by fan blades 8!.

Dust and lint removed from the mop in chamber 4 are either drawn directly into the fan chamber through openings 42, 82, or, falling upon hopper 3, slide downwardly to the center and enter the fan chamber through the same openings, whence the extracted matter is blown by the fan through outlet 43 into dust bag 61. Due to the sloping configuration of the fan blades (as shown in Fig. 7), lint, instead of becoming lodged in or on the fan, passes outwardly freely with the air current.

When it is desired to empty the dust receptacle 89 or to replace it by a new one, collar 68 is lifted off the receptacle, leaving the receptacle ll free to be withdrawn from the machine by removing the socket Ill from tongue II (see Figs. 4 and 6).

I claim:

1. A cleaner of the character described, comprising a container having a mop chamber adapted to receive a mop or similar article to be cleaned, said chamber having a dust outlet, dustremoving means communicating with said outlet, resilient brushes rotatably mounted in said mop chamber at the bottom and sides thereof, and rigid beaters rockably mounted in said mop chamber between said bottom brushes.

2. A cleaner of the character described, comprising a mop chamber, a mop guard supported in said chamber and adapted to receive a mop to be cleaned, and brushes rotatably mounted in said chamber at the bottom and sides thereof, said guard having openings in its sides and bot-- tom adjacent said brushes.

3. A cleaner of the character described, comprising a mop cleaning chamber, dust-removing means communicating with said chamber and having a dust outlet, a mop guard supported in the upper part of said chamber and adapted to receive a mop to be cleaned, brush shafts rotatably mounted in said chamber and extending along the sides of said guard, parallel rotatable brush shafts and rockable beater shafts mounted in the bottom portion of said mop chamber adjacent the bottom of said guard, series of resilient fingers on said brush shafts and series of rigid fingers on said beater shafts, said guard having openings permitting limited access of said fingers to the mop in said guard, and means for operating said dust-removing means and said brush shafts.

4. A cleaner of the character described, comprising a mop chamber, a cage constructed of spaced rods forming a mop guard suspended in the top portion of said chamber and adapted to receive a mop or similar article to be cleaned, said guard being spaced from opposite walls of said chamber, resilient brushes rotatably supported in the bottom portion of said chamber below said guard and resilient brushes in the upper part of said chamber adjacent the opposite sides of said guard between the sides of said guard andthe walls of said chamber, and means for rotating said brushes.

5. A cleaner of the character described, comprising a container, having. a mop cleaning chamber therein, the bottom of said chamber having an opening therein, suction means communicating with said opening, an open-top guard cage suspended in the upper part of said mop chamber and spaced from opposite walls thereof, upper brush shafts rotatably supported in the upper portion of said'mop chamber along opposite sides of said guard in the spaces between I guard cage being adapted to receive a mop or similar article to be cleaned and having openings in its bottom and sides permitting access of said fingers to the mop in said guard cage, and means for rotating said brush shafts and oscillating said beater shafts.

JAWS A. JONES. 

